Foot-latch release



Sept, 8, 1925.

v. w. BAILEY FOOT LATCH RELEASE Filed June 19, 1923 Patented Sept. 3, 1925.

a. Ea.

VOLNEY w. BAILEY, or MERRIMAN, NEBRASKA.

FOOT-LATCH RELEASE.

Application filed June 19, 1923.

To all whom it may GOHC'T'iL.

Be it known that I, VoLXnY XV. BAILEY, a citizen of the Unite-1 States, residing at ltfierriman, in the county of Cherry and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Foot-Latch Release, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device especially designed for connection with the usual door latch whereby the door latch may be operated by foot pressure, eliminating the necessity of a person grasping the usual door knob to operate the latch.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily and easily applied to the usual door latch construction now in use, eliminating the necessity of making extensive alterations to install the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch operator which will be supplied with means to restrict movement of the operating rod to relieve the connection between the rod and latch member, of undue strain, caused by operating the rod too suddenly.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, with out departing from the spirit .of the inven tion.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view disclosing a latch operating device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through a door and showing the latch operating mechanism in side elevation.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the securing clips.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 1. v

Figure 6 is a detail view disclosing the connection between one of the securing members and the operating rod.

Figure 7 is an elevational view disclosing a modified form of the invention.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on line 88 of Figure 7 Serial No. 646,441.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 designates a'door to which the device forming the subject matter of the present invention is secured. and the reference character 6 designates the latch mechanism associated therewith.

Bracket members 7 and 8 are secured to the door and are formed with openings to receive the operating rod 9, the lower end of which rod being formed into a right angled member 10 providing a foot to be engaged by the foot of the operator to operate the device.

A coiled spring 11 encircles a portion of the rod 9 and has its lower end contacting with the bracket member 7, the upper end of the spring 11 contacting with the adjustable stop 12 secured to the rod 9 by means of the set screw 13, so that the tension of the spring 11 may be readily and easily adjusted.

An adjustable stop 14 is secured to the rod 9 at a point adjacent to the upper end of the rod 9 and in spaced relation with the upper bracket 8 so that as the rod 9 moves downwardly, the stop 14 will contact with the upper bracket 8 and restrict downward movement of the rod 9 and at the same time relieve the latch member of unnecessary strain should the rod be actuated too quickly. i

Forming a part of the latch 6 is the usual knob shaft 15 that operates the usual sliding bolt 16 also forming a part of the latch. To the shaft 15. are secured the securing members 17 that embrace portions of the shaft and are bolted against movement by means of the bolts 18. One of the securing members 17 is relatively long and formed with an elongated opening 19 in which opening is positioned the upper end 20 of the rod 9, there being provided a cotter key 21 and positioned in an opening in the upper end of the rod 9, to secure the rod 9 to the relatively long securing member.

Thus it will be seen that by forcing the rod 9 downwardly, the shaft 15 will be slightly rotated to operate the usual latch member or sliding bolt 16. In the form of the invention as illustrated by Figures 7 and 8 of the drawing. the upper end of the rod 9 is formed at right angles as indicated at 22, the right angled end contacting with the usual pivoted thumb latch 23. In this form of the invention, the operating rod 24 moves through the bracket member 25 and carries an adjustable stop 26 designed to engage the bracket 25 and restrict movestop 26 is formed With fiat side faces, it Will be obvious that rotary movement of the rod 24 With respect to the latch member will be T prevented.

I claim as new:

A latch operating mechanism comprising a securing member including a relatively long arm formed with an opening adjacent to its outer ench said securing member adapted to be secured to the shank of a door latch, bearing members carried by the door,

a Vertical rod adapted to extend through the bea-rlng members and having its lower end formed into a footengaging portion.

the upper end of said rod adapted to extend through the opening in the securing member, acotter key extending through the rod and adapted to engage the securing member adjacent to the opening, an adjustable stop on the rod and adapted to engage one of bearing members to limit movement oi rod and a spring member for returning rod to its normal position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing the the as my own, I have hereto affixed my signa- 30 ture.

VOLNEY VJ. BAILEY. 

